Kenya: Photos of police violence spark international outrage

FILE - In this Monday, May 16, 2016 file photo, a Kenyan riot policeman repeatedly kicks a protester as he lies in the street after falling down while trying to flee from them, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. In an incident that has stirred anger and condemnation across Kenya, a policeman is seen beating and kicking one protester who had fallen on a road curb, while the U.S. and human rights activists have condemned violence by Kenyan police at the opposition protest for election reforms. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
(The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Monday, May 16, 2016, a protester temporarily manages to escape from riot police, before falling down and being beaten and kicked by them, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. In an incident that has stirred anger and condemnation across Kenya, a policeman is seen beating and kicking one protester who had fallen on a road curb, while the U.S. and human rights activists have condemned violence by Kenyan police at the opposition protest for election reforms. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
(The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Monday, May 16, 2016, a Kenyan riot policeman pursues a protester across the street, before beating and kicking him, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. In an incident that has stirred anger and condemnation across Kenya, a policeman is seen beating and kicking one protester who had fallen on a road curb, while the U.S. and human rights activists have condemned violence by Kenyan police at the opposition protest for election reforms. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
(The Associated Press)

NAIROBI, Kenya – Widely viewed pictures and video of a protester being kicked by Kenyan riot police as he lay on the ground have caused a stir in this East Africa country, prompting debate on police brutality and civil rights.

The U.S. and human rights activists are condemning the violence displayed by Kenyan police who on Monday beat up opposition supporters protesting for election reforms ahead of polls next year.

In one incident that has stirred anger and condemnation across Kenya, a policeman is seen beating and kicking one protester who had fallen on a road curb in the chaotic scenes after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd in the capital, Nairobi.

The U.S. "deplores the excessive use of force by the Kenyan security services and the violence around the demonstrations" near the offices of Kenya's electoral commission.

"We urge the security services to exercise restraint during demonstrations and to protect the rights of free speech, assembly and political participation guaranteed by the Kenyan constitution," said the statement attributed to Robert F. Godec, U.S. ambassador to Kenya.

In a statement Tuesday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it was "particularly dismayed by the gory scenes" as police tried to subdue protesters and said the actions by the security forces amounted to serious rights abuses. Kenyans took to social media to voice their reactions under the hashtag #stoppolicebrutality.

When riot police dispersed the opposition demonstration Monday, much of the downtown area was covered with white clouds of tear gas. Police then went through the streets chasing protesters, beating them with sticks and clubs. In a nearby building where protesters and bystanders had taken refuge, police went into fthe building flushing them out toward waiting colleagues who beat many with wooden clubs and kicked them as they tried to flee.

The man seen being kicked and beaten with sticks by three separate police officers in the widely viewed video and photos, was initially reported as having died Tuesday by Kenyan media, but was later located alive in Nairobi's Kibera slum and named as 36-year-old Boniface Manono, by local radio station Capital FM.

Manono said at first he managed to escape the waiting police, he ran across the street but was pursued and collapsed against a curb. As he lay motionless on the ground the riot policeman who had pursued him beat him with a stick eight times until the stick broke in half, and then continued to kick him half a dozen times, while two other police joined in. Eventually another officer walked up and directed the police to move away, leaving Manono lying in the street.

"I thank God that I am alive. I could have died," said Manono. "When I saw the way I was kicked this afternoon actually it shocked me that it was so bad."

Monday's protest was led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who lost the most recent election to President Uhuru Kenyatta. Odinga has said he doesn't believe the current election commission is credible, and is vowing to hold protests every Monday until the commissioners are removed from office.

Amnesty International urged Kenyan authorities to facilitate peaceful assembly and condemned the violence.

"The brutal beatings by police yesterday amount to arbitrary and abusive use of force, which is illegal under Kenyan, regional and international law," said Muthoni Wanyeki, a regional officer for Amnesty International.